EJ Obiena’s longtime adviser scores golden victory as pole vaulter defends Asiad title

MANILA — Asian pole vault king EJ Obiena and his longtime adviser James Michael Lafferty recently had a golden campaign in their respective fields.

While Obiena defended his Asian Games gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games, Lafferty was triumphant in the Raw Powerlifting World Championships 2026 men’s 60-64 age group, securing the golds in strict arm curl, bench press, and push pull — which is a bench press plus deadlift in a combined total. 

Over 500 lifters qualified from around the globe and competed across four days.

Before their campaigns, Lafferty playfully shared that if someone between would lose, he would pay for their dinner in Dubai.

“The loser, if there is one, would pay for a dinner in Dubai in October,” said Lafferty.

As it turned out, they would split the bill now after they both won in pole vault and powerlifting.

Lafferty praised Obiena, who was with him through thick and thin over the past decade, for his Asiad victory.

“I am so really happy for EJ for retaining the gold in the Asian Games plus resetting a new Asiad record. And I knew, I believed that he could do it of course, so we made a deal. If I won the gold in powerlifting, EJ had to win the gold as well at the Asian Games,” he said.

“EJ has proven himself the best pole vaulter in Asia for the second time. He is also a three-time Asian Champion, a two-time Olympian, fourth place among the best in Paris Olympics despite a spinal fracture that certainly impacted his performance. I honestly have never been more proud than of EJ and what he endured in Paris. He is the definition of toughness” added Lafferty.